Method of and apparatus for loading heavy spools



R. S. KOONCE METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR LOADING HEAVY SPOOLS I l 2 sheets-sheet 1 Filed NOV.V 5, 1938 R. S. KOONCE Jan. 17', 1939.

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR LOADING HEAVY SPOOLS 2 Sheets-Sheef 2 Filed Nov. 3, 1938 www ' u Strikes and rides upon the body portion of an-4 lustrated, the side rails l, la and 8, 8a are made erschafft-1939- y j 2,144,6o-

.UNITED- srArEs-PATENT OFFICE METHOD 0F AND APPARATUS FOB LOADING HEAVY SPOOLS Richard S. Koonce, Raleigh, N. C.

Application November 3, 1938, Serial No. 238,691

1o claims. (o1. 21a-1 6) This invention relates to a method of and 'apor lower loading rack used in loading the spools; -paratus for loading and transporting large spools Fig. 4 is a longitudinal section taken through of thread and similar shaped objects. the upper loading rack; v l

The problem which gave rise tov the present Fig. 5 is a similar View taken through the lower invention was the transportation of largespools loading rack; and

' of rayon thread from the manufacturing plant Fig. 6 is a vertical section between the rolls of to the looms or mills. The spools under consider- Fig. l.4

ation weigh approximately one thousand pounds In the present instance, the vehicle used in each, and in loading and transporting the spoolsy transporting the spools is a truck, the body of V1 considerable diiiculty was experienced in arwhich is generally indicated at 5. The spools, m

. ranging and supporting the spools in the truck indicated at 6, are loaded in rows with the spools or car body in a manner such as to avoid shifting of the upper row iny substantially vertical alignand resultant damage during transportation; ment or directly superimposed upon the spools Obviously, the question of space plays an importof' the bottom row, as clearly shown in Fig. 1.

ant part in the problem, and it becomesV practi- Since each spool of rayon weighs approximately l5 cally essential to load lthe spools'in rows and in one thousand pounds, the load plus the Weight superimposed relation. Despite extreme care of the frame is over 19,000 pounds, there being and more or less complicated reinforcing and nine spools in the bottom row and 'nine in the chocking structures usedin loading, the losses top row.

resulting from shifting of-the spools and crush- In carrying out the present method, the spools -ing or bruising of a relatively large quantity of are loaded on racks or frames which arein 8611-- threadofttimes 'amounted to considerable, since eral of similar construction With Certain Variain the event the thread of a spool is bruised', the tions to render the upper rack applicable to both latter is returned for rewinding. rows of spools. The primary object of the present invention Fig. 3 serves as a plan view for either the'lower therefore is to provide a method of an\ apparatus 0r base rack 0r the upper raCk- AS Will be noted for loading relatively large heavy spools and sim- Y by observing this gure, each rack comprises side ilar shaped objects in a manner such as to avoid rails. generally indicated at 1. 'la (upper framel shifting andiresultant damage to the contents of and 8, 8a (lower frame) which are of angle shape the spools during transportation. More specifin cross section, thereby providing spaced longi- .o ically, the invention is concerned with the loadtudinal S9001 tracks each having 8. base ange 9 ing and transportation ofspools of thread, such on which the ends of the spools roll and rest, and as rayon thread, and which is 'susceptible lor Side angeS Or'gllalds l0, Which retain the Said bruising and damage when the edge or one spool ends against lateral shifting movement. As ilother spool. up of a plurality of sections connected byjplates a5 Another objeotis to provide means whereby a Il. Ha. disposed on the outside of ythe retainins plurality of relatively large and heavy spoolor guard anges l0 so as to avoid interference shaped objects may be loaded in superimposed with the spoolends. The rails at the front end n rows onto a truck or freight car body or other, of each frame are rigidly COImeoted by end CroSS 40 supporting structure expeditiously and with relamember I2 reinforced by gusset plates I3, the tive ease and transported any desired distance cross connector I2 preferably being of channelover rough roadways without danger of relative .shape in cross section providing an upright liange shifting and misalignment of the spools. |2a

The foregoing and. other objects and advan' 'Ihe front end of each frame is provided with s tages ofthe invention will become more apparchecks, indicated at III on the upper frame and ent in view ofthe following description taken in l5 on the lower frame. which are anchored to conjunction with the drawings, wherein; the end cross members I2 by means of angle Fig. 1 is a view in side elevation of a series of pieces I6 and I1. spools loaded on a truckfbody in accordance with The tracks or rails 1, la; 8, 8a are connected by the features of the present invention, the truck cross rods I8, I9 and 20, these rods being remoied beine illustrated in dotted lines; p priorto loading the spools. At the rear ofjeach Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the loaded spools of frame are chocks 2I and 22, said chocks b'elngv Fla. 1: adjustable and accordingly are anohored'to cross u Flg.3isabrokennlanviewofeithertheupper members'23 and 2l whichareslidablymoated on the base flanges 9 of the tracks and are secured in adjusted position through the medium of the rods which at their opposite ends project through holes and 25a formedin registration through the opposed rearwardly turned flanged ends of the sliding cross members 24 and the adjacent portions of the tracks. The chocks 2| and 22 may be advanced or retracted by removing the rods 20 and resetting the latter after the chocks have been adjusted to the desired position.

'I'he upper frame comprising the side tracks or rails l and 1a differs from the lower frame in that the said side rails are provided with side flanges 26 complementary to the flanges l0, thereby providing guards or retaining flanges over the upper portions of the lower row of spools. End flanges 21 connect the downwardly projecting guard flanges 26.

The parts of the frames are detachably connected so that they may be readily taken apart and put to one side or compactly stored when not in use. y

Each spool is formed with end nanges 28 and a spindle 29, this construction being conventional with spools of the type under consideration. With prior methods of loading, the spools would ofttimes become displaced or shift out of position, causing the end anges of one spool to strike and ride upon the body portion of another spool having thread or yarn Wound thereon, with the result `tion over the bottom row of spools and the upper row of spools then rolled onto the upper frame, the chccks 2l adjusted against the rear spool and the frame rigidlyconnected by the cross rods I8,

. I9 and 20. Once the frames are in position and the chocks secured, the individual spools as well as the rows of spools are held rigidly against any tendency toward lateral and endwise displacement with respect to the frames. By arranging the spools with their axes in substantially vertical alignment, there is less strain on the frames and hence the latter can be made of lighter material. Also, by loading the spools in this manner, the tremendous weight of one row is transmitted directly to the spools of the lower row and thence to the support or bese on which the spools rest.

When the spools are loaded on the tracks, the latter may be clamped against the ends of the spools under practically any desired tension. In this manner, not only the spools are retained against shifting but the upper tracks and spools thereon are held against displacement with respect to the lower tracks and spools. If desired, clamping rods may be inserted through the downwardly'projecting flanges of the upper track instead of, or in addition, to the rods passed through the upwardly projecting ilanges of said tracks.- so that the upper tracks may be positively held against spreading movement during loading of the upper row of spools.

While it is obvious that the tracks could be made in one piece lengths instead of in sections. yet by making the tracks in sections. the latter can be knocked down and stored in a more coma,144,eoo

in one piece lengths. By mahng the front end section of each track as an integral unit, the forward end of the track is more rigidly braced.

` Actual experience has demonstrated the ability of the improved method and apparatus to maintain the spools in proper loading position over any hauling distance and over all kinds of roads. The loading frames may be manufactured at a rela- 'tivelv low cost and may be quickly andv easily` assembled. With this type of loading apparatus, also. the loading operation is facilitated and rendered easier.

A distinct feature of advantage resides in the f fact that the frames are of the knock-down type, so that after the loaded spools have reached their destination and have been unloaded, the frames may be easily taken apart and disposed in a compact manner in the truck body to make room for returning a large number of empty spools or for loading the truck in any other desired manner.

It will be understood that certain changes in structure and design may be adopted without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention as denned by the appended claims.

What is claimed as new is:

1. I'he method of loading heavy spools oi thread and the like which consists in lirst laying a track on the truck or car body to be used in transporting the spools, disposing a plurality of spools in a row on the tracks with the sides of the tracks locking the opposite ends of the spools against lateral shifting movement, laying another track over the upper edge portions of the lower row of spools with the latter holding the track against lateral displacement, disposing another row oi spools on the said latter trackwith their axes in substantial vertical alignment with those of the lower row of spools and with the upper track locking the upper spools against lateral displacement, and chocking the rows of spools against rolling movement on said tracks.

2. The method of loading heavy flanged spools of thread on a truck or car body which consists in disposing the spools in a plurality oi' superimposed rows on frames having vertically flanged tracks with the vertical flanges of the tracks interlocked with the flanges of the spools to hold the spools against lateral displacement on the tracks and chocking the spools against rolling movement on the tracks.

3. Apparatus for loading heavy spool-shaped objects comprising a base track having ilanges engaging the side faces of opposite end flanges of one row of spools and another track overlying the nrst row of spools and also provided with ilanges engaging the side faces of opposite end ilanges of the first row of spools and the faces of the end ilanges of4 another superimposed row of spools, and means for retaining said spools against rolling movement on said tracks.

4. Apparatus for loading heavy spools of thread and the like comprising in combination with superimposed rows of spools, a base track having flanges closely engaging the opposite 'flanged ends of the spools of one row, means for chocking said spools against rolling movement on. said base track, and a track located above the lower track between adjacent rows of spools and provided with upwardly and downwardly projected ilanges engaging the opposite flanged ends of the spools of both the upper andlower rows of spools, and means for chocking the upper rowof spools against rolling movement on the upper track.

5. Apparatus for loading heavy spools with u pacttthsnwhercthetracksaremade iianged ends in combination with u of the spools roll and rest and the other flange of iiange, the laterally projecting flange being interposed between the anges of the spools oi adjacent rows and the upwardly and downwardly projecting ilange closely engaging .the opposite ends oi the spools of adjacent rows to prevent 'lateral displacement of the upper track and spools thereon, and chocks on said upper track preventing rolling movement of the spools thereon.

6. Apparatus for loading heavy spools of thread and similar shaped objects comprising in coinbination with upper and lower rows of spools, lower and upper retaining frames including tracks, the tracks of the lower frame forming a' base on which the spools roll and come to rest and the tracks of the upper frame being disposed over the flanged edges of the lower row of spools and receiving the anged edges of the upper row of spools, and means on said tracks positively holding said spools against lateral and endwise displacement.

7. Apparatus for loading heavy spools of thread and the like comprisingl in combination with a plurality of superimposed lower and upper rows of spools, a pair of frames, one of said frames constituting a base frame and being made up of longitudinal tracks of angle shape in cross secl tion, each track providing a base ange and an upwardly projecting side flange, the base ange forming a track on which the spools of the lower row roll and come to rest and the upwardly projecting ange closely engaging the outer ends of the spools and holding the latter against lateral shifting movement on the tracks, the other frame being interposed between the upper and lower rows of spools and having tracks of T-shape in cross section providing a central ange which is interposed between te iiang'ed ends of adjacent rows of spools and side ilanges which closely engage the outer ends of the.- spools oi adjacent rows, and chocks at the iront and rear ci said frames for holding the rows of spools f: :.z; inst end wise displacement.

8. Apparatus for loading heavy spools of thread and the like comprising in combination with a plurality oi superimposed lower and upper rows of spools, lower and upper retaining frames including tracks, the tracks of the lower` frame proV viding a. base on which the spools roll and come to rest andthe tracks of the upper frame-being y disposed over the anged edges of the lower row of spools and receiving the flanged edges of the upper row of spools, and means on said tracks for positively holding said spools against lateral displacement, chock means on said tracks holding said spools against rolling movement on the tracks, said frames and tracks being of ook down construction whereby the apparatus may be dismantled when unloaded and compactly arranged.

9. Apparatus for loading heavy spools of thread and the like comprising in combination a plurality of superimposed lower and upper rows of spools, lower and upper retaining frames including tracks, the'tracks of the lower frame providing a base.on which the spools roll and come to rest and the tracks oi' the upper frame being disposed over the hanged edges of the lower row'of spools and receiving the anged edges of the upper row of spools', means for clamping said rails tightly against the opposite ends of the spools alter the' lattervare loaded on the tracks, and means for checking said spools against `rolling movement on said tracks.

10. Apparatus for loading heavy spools ci thread and thelike comprising in combination with a plurality of superimposed lower and upper rows of spools, lower and upper retaining frames including tracks formed with ilanges arranged to `interlock with the flanged end edges of the spools,

the tracks of the lower frame providing a basek to the spools. l

lhtml-IARD S. KOONCE. 

